Bubble tray downcomer



May 6, 1947.

Filed June 23, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l,

L a A. .a. 15 7 r A A a.

Hans e 619118011 y 6, 1947. H. c. GLITSCH 2,420,075

BUBBLE TRAY DOWNCOMEH HDUBU Hans C Gifzscl y 6,1947- H. c. GLITSCH 2,420,075

BUBBLE TRAY DOWNCOMER Filed June 23, 1945 3 Sheets-:Sheet 3 I mam/tow Hans C G]; sch

Patented May 6, 1947 BUBBLE 'rnaY powNcoMER.

Hans C. Glitsch, Dallas, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Glitsch Engineering Company, Dallas, Tex., a partnership consisting of Fritz W. Glitsch, Jr., and Hans C. Glitsch Application June 23, 1945, Serial No. 601,149

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bubble tray downcomers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved downcomer adapted to be mounted adjacent the circular wall of the shell of a refining tower which while providing a distributed and free overflow, from one tray to the next lower tray, obviates the necessity of an intricate and diflicult construction.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved downcomer involving an inclined deflector and conductor which may be installed at the overflow side of a bubble tray without the use of elements conforming to the curvature of the shell wall and without extensive welding.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved downcomer wherein a single transverse truss or support may be employed for supporting one side of a bubble tray and for suspending the downcomer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved downcomer including an inclined plate connected to adapters, whereby the plate may be readily and efficiently secured in place without complicated components or the use of intricate structures.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and tower type. A portion only of the tank has been by reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view of a portion of a refinery tower, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a downcomer constructed in the invention,

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of one of the trays and the downcomer,

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a portion of the tray and downcomer,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a portion of a tray and its downcomer,

Fig. 5 is a composite isometric view of separated elements ofa portion of a tray and its downcomer, and

Fig. 6 is a partial transverse sectional view of a tower having a downcomer therein.

This application is filed as a continuation-inpart of my co-pending application filed May 15, 1944, Serial No. 535,612.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a cylindrical tank which forms the shell or a reaccordance with shown and said tank may be of any desired diameter and height, although usually the diameter will be relatively small. A plurality of transversely-extending trays A are disposed at spaced intervals or elevations throughout the height of' the tank in the usual manner and the quantity of trays is subject to variation according to the size of said tank and its particular use. Since the present invention involves only the mounting of the trays, only two of said trays have been shown and additional trays (not shown)". are normally disposed above and below the: trays which have been illustrated. It is pointed out that this invention is not to be limited to use with the particular tower shown and described herein, because it may be successfully used in any refining colunm or tower having super-imposed trays or decks mounted therein. or course, the processing oi the hydrocarbon fluid, which is conducted 7 through the trays of the tower, forms no part of the present invention and any conventional method of operation may be employed.

Each tray A is supported within the tank by a substantially-annular, flat ring II which is secured to the inside of the wall of the tank In by welding, or other suitable means and projects radially andinwardly from said wall. A plurality of deck plates or floor sections I2, of stainless steel or other like weight material and preferably corrosion-resistant material, are supported upon medial transverse trusses l3 and upon transverse trusses or channel members I and i 5 at each side. all 01' which trusses extend across the tank in substantially parallel relation. It will be observed that the ring ll does not extend entirely around the tank and may be referred to as a mutilated circumferential support. Each ring terminates at the ends of the transverse truss l5, which ends may be welded or otherwise secured to the tank wall, and have their upper surfaces flush with the upper surface of the ring. It will be observed,

from Fig. 1 that the trusses l4 and I 5 are disposed in opposite relation with respect to opposite sides of the tanks, the truss l5 of the upper tray A being adjacent the left hand side of the tank, the truss I 5 of the lower tray A being adjacent the right hand side of the tank. This arrangement p ovides agap or space between the trusses l5 and the tank walls, and this space forms part of an overflow channel l6, which involves ele-- ments to be hereinafter described.

The particular construction of the floor I! is not involved in this invention, and it may include sectional plates properly mounted on the trusses, and frictionally clamped on the ring II by means of clamps l1, such as are shown in my Patent No. 2,341,091, issued February 8, 1944: however. the invention is not to be limited to the floor construction so long as a floor is used which will cooperate with the elements hereinafter set forth.

In the ordinary operation of a refining tower, the liquids flow downwardly while the gasses flow upwardly. In order to form trays. a' transverse weir is disposed transversely at one side of the floor. and a complementary weir i3 is likewise disposed at the opposite side of the door. The weir i8 is formed of an angular member which is bolted on the floor i2 by means of bolts 26, which pass through the floor and the top of the channel-shaped truss I 4. It will be observed that the floor has an extension l2 from the weir I. to the ring II, which is secured by the clamps I I. The opposite side of the floor I2 rests upon the flat top 2| of the channel-shaped truss ii.

The weir I3 is angular in cross-section, as is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and rests upon the truss with the outer face of its upright leg flush with the outer face of .the truss. The bottom leg of the weir is offset upwardly at 22 so as to overlap the edge of the floor l2. The parts are secured together by bolts 23. When the upper tray A of Fig. 1 is filled with liquid, such as oil, to the upper edge of the weir l9, such oil will overflow into the channel l6.

The downcomer includes a downwardly ex-,

tending deflector plate 24, which extends longitudinally of the truss l6, and is inclined toward the tank wall to co-act therewith in forming the channel i6. The plate has, at its top, a laterally directed flange 26. which underlies the relatively narrow base flange 26 of the truss l5. These flanges are secured together at spaced intervals by bolts 21. Asis clearly shown in Figs. 1 and the downcomer plate 24 overhangs the floor extension l2' of the next lower tray A, and while terminating a short distance above the floor extension, extends well below the upper edge of the weir l8, thus when liquid flows down the channel I6, it will fill the bottom thereof up to 'the upper edge of the weir I8 before overflowing into the lower tray, and thereby the lower end of the plate 24 willbe immersed in such liquids and a gas tight seal will be provided.

For supporting and closing the vertical ends of the plate 24, an adapter 28 is provided at each end of the plate. As hereinbefore pointed out, the ends of the angular weir l9 abutt the inner edges of the supporting ring Ii and the upright outer face of the weir lies flush with the radial edges of the adjacent supporting ring. The top flange of the plate 24 and the upper portion of said plate is cut out at each end as indicated at 36, as is best shown in Fig. 5, so as to form a gap wherein the adapter plate 28 may be inserted between the plate 24 and the outer face of the truss ii. The outer vertical edge of each adapter plate is welded or otherwise secured to the tank wall to form a gas tight joint. The adapter plate is formed with a vertical slot 3| for receiving the bolt 32 which passes through the truss II for securing the plate thereto. The plate 28 may be made in one piece. or the upper. portion 23' thereof may be made. separately, and its outer vertical edge welded to the tank wall flush; with the plate 29. A slot 33 is provided in the member 23', for receiving a bolt 34 whereby the member may be secured to the upright face of the weir ll.

. by said plate is made detachable.

4 Each adapter Plate 14 formed with an outwardly directed inclined boa 3|. which may be pressed from the plate or offset in any suitable manner. and which provides a flat support for the overlapping ends of the downcomer plate 24. It will be observed that the plate 24 is flat from end to end transversely of-the tower; thus. by

means of the adapters 23 the plate may be supported at the proper angle and the edges of the adapters welded to the tank wall. While'the downcomer plate 24 may be secured to the boss 3! in any suitable manner, it is preferable to attach the downcomer plate to the inner inclined edge of the boss by means of clamps 36 such as are shown in my Patent 2,341,091, supra, where- The plate 24 is formed near each end with horizontal slots 34' spaced upwardly of the plate at suitable distances, as is best shown in Fig. 5. These slots receive the bolts of the clamps 36 which latter overlie said slots and engage under the edges of the bosses as. It is desirable to make all joints as tight as possible, and to pack the same in any suitable manner, so that gas cannot escape therebetween.

The hereinbefore describedconstruction makes it possible to produce an entire tray with its downcomer from light-weight material without sacrificing strength'or rigidity. By the use of light-weight material. the cost and time of manufacture are decreased, and assembly facilitatwhen necessary, and the cutting of difficult curves and the making of intricate structures is avoided. The adapters are very important, because they permit'latitude in matching and securing the parts together, as well as providing a convenient means of assembly.

It is pointed out that no bubble tower has the same internal diameters at diflerent elevations. These towers have general inside diameters of from 10 to 15 feet and in making up the sections it is impossible not only to make the internal diameter of each section, identical, but to get them truly circular. Thus a section may be out of round and its internal diameter may be as much as an inch, either less or greater, than the next section. For these reasons the adapter 28 and the friction clamps 36 are very important. Since the plate 24 overlaps the inclined flat boss 35 of the adapter, said adapter may he slid laterally to compensate the varying internal diameters or the vertical edge of the adapter may be inclined to lie flush with a slightly inclined tank wall. The friction clamps 36 not only permit these adiustmentabut also provide expansion and contraction Joints.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changesin the size, shape and materials, as wellasin the details of the illustrated construction may'bemade. within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

l. The combination with a cylindrical tank having a plurality of spaced trays extending transversely across the interior thereof, of a vertical downcomer for eachtray including, a plate depending from each tray and, having its lower end terminating adjacent the tray therebelow. an angular adapter for securing the vertical ends of the plate to the cylindrical wall of the tank, the adapter comprising an upright plate having one longitudinal edge secured to said cylindrical wall and being bent upon itself to provide a boss overlapping, receiving and supporting said inclined plate, whereby said adapter seals off between the inclined plate and the cylindrical tank wall, and "means for clamping the overlapping portions of the plate and boss together, whereby the adapter may be laterally adjusted.

2. The combination with a cylindrical tank having a plurality of spaced trays extending transversely across the interior thereof, of a vertical downcomer for each tray including, a fiat plate depending from each tray and having its lower end terminating adjacent the tray therebelow, an angular member for securing the sides of the plate to the cylindrical wall of the tank, the member having a vertical portion fastened to said cylindrical wall and a flanged portion underlying and supporting said plate, whereby the member seals off between the plate and the cylindrica1 tank wall, and means for clamping the overlapping portions of the plate and boss together, whereby the adapter may be laterally adjusted.

3. In combination, a curved tank wall, a transverse truss channel-shaped in cross-section having its ends attached to the tank wall, a weir angular in cross-section extending longitudinally on said truss, means for securing the weir on the truss, said truss and weir being spaced from the tank wall between their ends, a downcomer plate inclined downwardly toward the tank wall and attached to the truss, the downcomer terminating short oi the tank wall at its ends, adapters at each end of the plate secured to the tank wall and having angular portions underlapping the ends of the plate for closin the vertical spaces between the tank wall and the ends of the plate, and clamps fastening the overlapping portions or the plate to the angular portions of the adapters.

4. As a sub-combination in a downcomer, an adapter including an upright plate and an inclined boss struck from the plate at one side thereof and having a flat face.

5. A downcomer including, an inclined transverse plate having a laterally directed flange at its top and provided at each end with gaps, and I 7. A downcomer for refining tanks including,

a transverse tray support, an inclined downcomer plate suspended from the support, separate adapters at each end of the plate, each adapter including an inclined portion onto which the plate overlaps and a'portion having a substantially vertical outer edge, whereby it may be secured directly to the wall of a tank, and friction clamps connecting the overlapping portions of the plate and adapters.

8. A downcomer for refining tanks including, a transverse tray support, an inclined downcomer plate suspended from the support, separate adapters at each end of the plate, each adapter having an inclined portion onto which the plate overlaps and an angular portion integral therewith having a substantially vertical edge, whereby it may be'secured directly to a tank wall, and friction clamps connecting the overlapping portions of the plate and adapters.

HANS C. GLITSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references, are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,380,852 Lambert et al. July 31, 1945 1,893,906 Primrose et al. Jan. 10, 1933 2,210,808 Glitsch Aug. '6, 1940 

